Ahhh, on a hot summer’s day there’s nothing like an ice cold can of Coca-Cola to quench one’s thirst! But did you know that that can of Coke has many other uses besides thirst quenching? Here’s 20 of the best!

1. Control Pests in the Garden

If you have a backyard garden that is overrun by slugs and snails, you can set traps of Coke that will help kill them off. Simply pour some Coke into a small bowl and place it in your garden area. The Coke will attract them to the bowl and the acid in the soda will get rid of them.

2. Heal Thyself

Coca Cola is useful for a variety of ailments. The most common is for soothing upset stomachs. Just slowly sip a glass of flat Coke and it should help to alleviate nausea. It is also good for people suffering from diarrhea or a sore throat.

3. Pain Killer

The chemicals in Coca Cola can be very effective to help neutralize the pain of jellyfish stings. The best thing about this is that while most people at the beach are unlikely to be carrying anti-sting lotions, they are likely to be carrying a bottle of Coke. Just pour the Coke over the area in which you have been stung and feel the relief.

4. Clean Your Clothes

Grease stains are famously difficult to remove from clothing and stain removers can be very expensive. Here is a cheap solution: empty a can of Coke into your wash along with the usual detergent and run it through a normal cycle. This is also quite effective for removing blood and it helps to deodorize smelly clothes.

5. Rust Buster

Coca Cola is an excellent rust buster. If you have a bunch of small objects that need de-rusting, soak them in Coke overnight and give them a good scrub in the morning. The properties of Coke help to break down the rust particles, making cleaning much easier.

6. Clean a Window

Like the previous item, the citric acid in Coke makes for an excellent window cleaner. This is especially useful for car windows which can get tough buildups of gunk. Pour over the can of Coke and rub the window – then wipe it off with a damp cloth (to ensure the removal of any sticky residue from the sugars in the drink). Think of this like a cheap alternative to the many citrus fruit based cleaners that are sold on TV.

7. Marinate a Chicken

Coke can be used for a variety of cooking techniques. You can mix it half and half with BBQ sauce for an excellent marinade, and you can even casserole an entire chicken in it. Here is a tasty recipe for chicken pieces cooked on the stove top with Coke . The sugars in Coke give the chicken a deep glossy coating and caramelized flavor, while the citric acid (found in lemons) gives a nice tang.

8. De-blacken Your Pots

Pots can sometimes get a black film on the bottom which is almost impossible to remove; this is caused by over-cooking or just natural discoloration due to highly acidic foods. To remove the black and restore your pot to new, pour in a can of Coke (or as much as you need to cover the blackened area by an inch) and put it on the stove on a low heat. After an hour or so, wash the pot as normal. Your pot should be almost as good as new!

9. De-Skunk Yourself

For those of you who live in areas where skunk smells can be an issue from time to time, one can of Coke added to a bucket of water with detergent really helps to break the odor down. If you have been sprayed, stand in the shower and cover yourself from head to toe with Coke – wait for a few minutes, then rinse off. You should be smelling as fresh as a daisy again!

10. Get Softer Skin

For silkier, more glowing skin, just mix your regular skin lotion with a spoonful of Coca-Cola and mix well.

11. Natural Bug Deflector

If you are having a cookout or a picnic outdoors, poor a cup of Coca-Cola and set it in a place away from where you plan to hang out. If you do this about an hour before you are set to eat, the bees and other insects will be drawn away from your space in pursuit of the soda.

12. Renew Your Love of Pennies

While many of us tend to throw our old, dirty pennies to the side, you can try soaking them in a glass of Coca-Cola to remove the dirt and tarnish of old age. Seeing some shiny pennies may give you the incentive to save more of them.

13. Get Curlier Hair

To make your hair curly, simply pour flat Coke onto your hair, leave for a few minutes then rinse.

14. Give Your Photos the Antique Look

Want that aged, sepia tone look for photos? Apply a small amount of Coke, pat with paper, leave to dry.

15. Remove Gum From Hair

Someone played a bad joke on you and deposited their wad of gum onto your hair? Well, to disengage said gum from your hair, dip a paper towel into a small bowl of Coke and leave it on a few minutes. The gum will soon wipe off.

17. Clean Your Pool

Got a dirty pool? Add two 2-liter bottles of Coke to clear up the water (it acts as rust remover).

18. Get Rid of a Bad Dye Job

Remove (or fade) dye from hair by pouring diet Coke over it then rinse.

19. Clean Your Carpet

Got marker stains on your carpet you just can’t seem to get rid of? Apply a dab of Coke using a paper towel, scrub, then clean with soapy water. Voila!…marker stain gone!

20. Make an Explosion

Most people who have been around on the Internet for at least a few years will be familiar with the diet-coke-Mentos volcano. The idea is that you drop a Mentos into a bottle of coke and the chemical reaction causes the Coke to spurt for miles (not literally of course). Sounds like fun doesn’t it???

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